One of the questions I am asked is how we got into this space and what qualifies us to be here.

First, I did not go to school for soil sciences. So, if I don’t use big words to discuss complex issues you will know why. I find discussing complex issues in terms that kids can understand makes it easier to get the points across.

My background is in product development and mechanical engineering. Some of you may have heard of a company called Wood-Mizer Products. Our family started and built this company and ultimately sold it to our employees. My job was product development which immersed me in the world of biomass and all of its facets.

After selling the company to the employees via an ESOP, we spent the last several years working on innovative ways to repurpose waste streams into energy and ultimately, soil amendments.

At OrganiLock, we manufacture biomass burners (furnaces), biochar makers, biomass processors, and tissue digesters. With these ‘toys’ at our disposal and with a keen desire to make something good out of waste streams, we have been able to combine tech with waste to develop this new soil amendment technology that we call NIST – Nutrient Infused Soil Technology.